Locking device for truck and trailer doors



Oct 26, 9 w. A. JOHNSON ETAL 2,452,521

LOCKING DEVICE FOR TRUCK AND 'i'RAILER DOORS I Filed May 27, 1944 F; [IF-1-1..

b64504 i/mer A. Moo e,

|NVENTOR$ ATTORNEY i atenteci Oct. 26, i943 LOCKING DEVICE FOR TRUCK AND i TRAILER DOORS William A. Johnson, Smithfield, and Filmer E. Moore Fort Worth, Tex; said Johnson assigrior to said Moore Application May 27, 1944, Serial No. 537,636

3 Claims.

This invention relates to locking devices for truck and trailer doors, or the like, and it has particular reference to locking apparatus designed for use in vans and trucks utilized in highway hauling, such as motor freight, and the like, and its principal object resides in the provision of an arrangement whereby the rear or side doors, of the swinging type, can be securely locked to prevent accidental or unauthorized opening while the vehicle is in transit.

An object of the invention is that of providing a simple locking device capable of easy manual operation and comprising few parts, yet affording adequate protection against theft and the accidental opening of the doors occasioned by the road jars and vibrations transmitted to the vehicle.

A still further object of the invention is manifest in the provision of a locking mechanism embodying such features as a centrally positioned eccentric member capable of rotation on a pivot to cause the extension and withdrawal of latching arms into the header and sill of the vehicle door above and below the swinging doors and securely fasten the same against displacement to any degree and provide a medium whereby a padlock, or other suitable lock, can be utilized to prevent pilferage, or the vehicle may even be sealed, if desired.

Broadly, the invention seeks to comprehend the provision of a locking device of the character described capable of use on all types of vehicle doors, where such vehicles are used in transporting goods, whether such doors be of the double or single swinging type and may be employed as a tail gate latch wherever such a device may be required.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a truck showing the invention applied and in locking position.

Figure 2 illustrates the invention in unlatched position on the rear of a truck, or the like, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional illustration of the invention showing the looking arms extending into the keepers and the several pivotal mountings.

Accordingly, therefore, the invention comprises, primarily, an eccentric plate I pivotally secured by a bolt or pin 2 to one of the doors 3 of the vehicle 4. A lever 5 is rigidly secured to the plate I by the bolt 2 and rivets or bolts 6 for rotating the plate I' approximately a quarter turn to the left for unlocking, and to the right for locking.

The eccentric plate I is substantially oval in form, although such shape is not necessarily essential to its operation, and has latching arms I and 8 pivotally connected to each end, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The upper arm I, when in operative position as shown in Figure 1, extends upwardly into a keeper 9 secured in the header ill of the vehicle door and retained by a guide I I fixed to the door 3 above the plate I.

The opposite arm 8 depends from the plate I and is adapted to extend downwardly into a keeper I2 in the sill I3 of the vehicle door and is retained in its movement by a, guide I4 secured to the door 3 below the plate I. The lower arm 8 is formed with an integral member I5 extending to one side thereof and has its outer end I6 turned outwardly at right angles to the surface of the arm 8 and is apertured to receive a padlock H, or the like, shown in Figure 1, when the rigid lever 5 is in the position shown in Figure 1 and the slot II' therein is caused to receive the projecting member IS. The lever 5 has limited flexibility to permit the same to be flexed outwardly sufliciently to cause the projection I6 to enter the slot I1 and secure the assembly against movement once it has assumed the position shown in Figure 1.

On the opposite door I8 a plate I9 is fixed with rivets 20, or other suitable device, and has secured thereto a pin 2| having a large head which is received by a circular opening 22 in the eccentric plate I in the manner shown in Figure 2, and retains the latter upon the pin 2| in the arcuate slot 23 extending downwardly from the opening 22 when the plate I is in the position shown in Figure 1. It will be observed that while the head of the pin 2| passes through the opening 22, its diameter will not permit its passage through the slot 23. Thus, as soon as the pin 2| enters the slot 23 the doors 3 and I8 are secured together and when the assembly is positioned in the manner shown in Figure l, and the latching arms I and 8 are fully extended into the keepers 9 and I2, the doors are latched securely.

Each of the doors 3 and I8 are provided with 4 suitable hinge assemblies 24 of the conventional type.

The outer ends of the latching arms I and 8 are preferably formed so that they are turned back upon themselves providing a wedge 25 or tensioning means for guiding the ends into the keepers 9 and I2 and tightening the doors 3 and I8. This arrangement is illustrated in Figure 3.

3 A stop 26 is arranged upon the door 3 to limit the upward movement of the lever 5 in the manner shown in Figure 2.

Manifestly the structure herein shown and described is capable of certain changes and modifications by persons skilled in the art and such changes and modifications that mayrberesorted to andifeund to'fall-Within the spirit and intent of the invention may also be considered as falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a locking device of the character described comprising, in combination, an eccentrically pivoted locking plate adapted foruse'in cooperation with a keeper member, an'arcuate slot'forme'd' in wherebyythe said-plate when rotated, provides alocking association withsaid keeper member.

2.1:: a locking-devicefor. closedtruck bodies, or thevlike, the-combination comprising an eccentrically--pivoted plate having an arouate slot formed thereinwvith a circular portion on one .endand a rigidlever attached thereto, the said lever extendingradially therefrom for rotating the-same, a keeper member comprising a stud having a head formed .onits :outer end embraceable by said. circular portion .offlsaidslot cooper- Number ating with said plate whereby a locked association between said plate and said keeper will result when said plate is rotated, and means for lockin said lever.

3 In a locking device for closed truck bodies, or the like, having a pair of doors, the combination. comprising.. an eocentrically i pivoted locking plate onone door of;said1body having a rigid lever attached thereto, an arcuate slot formed in said plate and having an enlarged circular portion in one end, a keeper member on the opposite door comprising a stud having a head cooperating with said plate and engageable with said slot to effecta lockedassociation of said doors when said plate is rotated on said keeper member.

WILLIAM A. JOHNSON. ELL [ER E. MOORE.

idle of this patent:

i UNITED STATES PATENTS Name lDate' Wright Dec. 22, .1885 Ebbeson. .b Dec. 4, 1906 Hoifman Mar. 17,1914 Page "Aug. '6, 1918 Hansen May. 14,192!) 

